According to the Japanese legend, the fish which is known as “Ryugu no tsukai” in Japanese, or the “Messenger from the Sea God’s Palace,” often comes to the surface when a natural disaster like tsunami or underwater earthquake is nearing.

In a more recent incident, a giant squid was found dead in a river near Hamada city in Japan’s Shimane.

However, scientists have disputed the claims. According to CNN, Uozu aquarium keeper Kazusa Saiba explained that such giant fish comes to the surface may be caused by global warming or subtle changes in Earth’s crust.

The changes in world climate could “cause the current to stir and push creatures at the bottom to the surface,” he told CNN.

“There is no scientific evidence at all for the theory that oarfish appear around big quakes. But we cannot 100per cent deny the possibility.”